All Fairfax County public schools will be closed today, January 18, 2011. Offices are open with an unscheduled leave policy in effect.

The following activities in schools and on school grounds are canceled:· extracurricular activities· interscholastic contests· team practices· field trips· middle school after-school programs · professional learning and training courses· all adult and community education classes· recreation programs and community use

Are you currently or will you be enrolled in a Virginia college or university? Are you pursuing a degree in the field of criminal justice? If you answered “yes” to both of these questions, then you are eligible to apply for a college scholarship from the Virginia Sheriff’s Institute (VSI) Scholarship Program. Scholarships are available to both full- and part-time students.

As part of the application process, Fairfax County Sheriff Stan Barry must submit a letter of recommendation on behalf of the applicant. To obtain a letter of recommendation, please contact Lieutenant Sonny Cachuela at shf-pio@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-246-3251.

The new Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools will be launched at a news conference on Tuesday, January 4, at 8 a.m. at the Gatehouse Administration Center.

A partnership of the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), the foundation will be a flexible vehicle for the community to invest in its future through education. The foundation will be able to support initiatives that help students acquire 21st century skills, advance the diverse needs of the community, and contribute to the creation of a world-class workforce.

WHAT: This 1-day conference for 5th-12th grade students promises to educate and motivate students who seek information on how to crack into the video gaming industry. From creation to marketing industry experts will introduce students to the various aspects of video game design, programming…and of course play! With fun, food, and door prizes you don’t want to miss out on this experience.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— In partnership with the Student Conservation Association (SCA), the Department of the Interior’s Blacks In Government (BIG) Chapter celebrated the academic achievements of ten high school students from the National Capital region today during its 5th annual awards ceremony. Robert Stanton, Senior Advisor to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, and Flip Hagood, SCA Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, led the ceremony in which the students each received a Dr. Dorothy I. Height Scholarship from BIG and work opportunities from SCA.

“The ten students receiving scholarships today are the future leaders of our country,” said Robert Stanton. “They have demonstrated great academic and extracurricular achievement and this scholarship will enable them to continue to aim high in their educational development and careers.”